Adherence of Diabetic Patients to Education Information Provided at Primary Health Care Level in Khartoum State, Sudan

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus needs medical care and education. Adherence of the diabetic patients to education information provided at primary care level have been scantly documeneted.

Objective: To measure the adherence of diabetic patients to education information provided at health centers.

Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in 25 governmental health centers (Gov.HCs) and 15 non-governmental health centers (Non-Gov.HCs). Study population was 419 adult diabetic males /females known beneficiaries of the services in the study centers.

Patients were interviewed by structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistic presented the patients profile, as well as the education information received by the patients and the levels of patients’ adherence. Fisher exact test at 95% confidence level used to test differences in education information services. Adherence of patients to education information was measured by three points Likert scale. Chi square test used to test the difference in adherence. Ethical clearance and written consent were obtained.

Results: The mean age was 55.2±10.2 years. Males and females were 44.6% and 55.4% respectively. Education accounted to 76.4%. Family income above 1000 Sudanese Geneh (SDG) accounted to 64.2%. Doctors provided education information about physical activities to 64.6% and 46.2% patients in Gov.HCs and Non-Gov.HCs respectively, P-value 0.014. Diet plan received by 73.6% and 55.8% of patients in Gov.HCs and Non-Gov.HCs respectively, P-value 0.013. Information on how to measure blood glucose at home received by 48.2% and 25.0% of patients in Gov.HCs and Non-Gov.HCs respectively, P-value 0.002. Very few patients received information from educators, 0.2% and 3.4% of patients in Gov.HCs and Non-Gov.HCs respectively. Foot care education information provided to 25.3% of patients. Adherence of diabetic patients to education information provided was adequate but does not significantly differ between the types of the health centers

Conclusions: Education information services were significantly high in Gov.HCs. Adherence of diabetic education information was adequate.